Immediately warm and inviting, vanilla, followed by a more pronounced orange, clove and pepper. Then your nostrils are hit with a wave of warmth, wood, more vanilla and a hint of grassy rye.

Taste:

Creamy orange, pepper and oak initially, followed by a slight bitterness which gives way to a softer, but spicy vanilla.

Finish:

Long, dry woody finish with a strong rye and pepper presence. very viscous whiskey. It coats the mouth and tongue... and sticks around in a very pleasant way.

Overall:

This was one of the most unique whiskies I've had the pleasure to drink. There's a lot going on with this whiskey. It transforms and surprises with every drink. It's very good neat. Sampling it with a few cubes of ice seemed to detract a bit from the character of the whiskey for me. I would definitely buy another bottle. I'm looking forward to trying the Rittenhouse Rye 23 if I can find it.

The beautiful mahagony color promises a fine dram and sweet vanilla, orange, rye and a bit of wood offer a warm and cheerful greeting as your put nose to the glass. Mature, sophisticated, subtle, but not delicate, this whiskey brings an inviting aromatic balance with a light brush of chocolate and very little alcohol.

Taste:

Distinct orange frutiness, as noted by Tim in his review, followed by some not too hot, red hots with their cinnamon spice. A thick, hearty mouthfeel that gives over to a nice dryness toward the back of the mouth.

Finish:

Sweet fruit, spice (pepper, cinnamon), and dry wood engage in a fugue that holds your attention for some time.

Overall:

This whiskey stands as testament to what aging, done correctly, can offer for the whiskey lover. It is refined, sublte, complex, balanced, and offers something new with each sip. It is a five star whiskey in my book, a milestone in the distiller's art.

Walnettos candies, tinged with anise, powdered cocoa; a trailing blast of alcohol. Black pepper fights its way through the proof. A whiff of rye grain finally appears after several minutes' aeration.

Taste:

Sweet orange on the tip of the tongue, followed by a suffusion of black pepper. Unseasoned oak, then bitterer orange peel. Sprinkled with dark chocolate. Luscious viscosity, from the sheeting of the 'legs' down the glass to the oily, substantial mouthfeel.

Finish:

Quite long, with the orange peel receding only at leisure, but followed even more hesitantly by the black pepper.

Overall:

If long aging has a flavor, this whiskey defines it. It tastes 'old', with a fullness of maturity, and a complexity that is identifiable enough not to confound. Personally, I find the lingering, citric acidity in the finish a bit diminishing, but others might not. I prefer it sweeter. This is weighty enough whiskey to complement apple pie, or dark chocolate (which I am assaying right now) or, I suspect, a strong cigar (which I shall not attempt).